News & Events

A health partnership between Basildon & Thurrock NHS Trust and Lumley Government Hospital in Sierra Leone have come together to improve epilepsy care in Sierra Leone. They are training health workers at all levels to be able to diagnose and manage epilepsy. And are setting up an epilepsy hub to reach isolated rural communities. This short film documents some of the project work of the partnership and interviews health workers and patients about their experience with epilepsy and how the project has changed their lives. Thank you to everyone who took part in the film....

Epilepsy in Sierra Leone Handbook attempt to introduce the issues of epilepsy to health workers of all grades as well as members of the public and parents of persons with epilepsy who are interested in epilepsy. The aim is to demystify this contentious condition and give readers the basic knowledge to understand people with epilepsy and to propagate this knowledge in the health community as well as the community at large in order to reduce the widespread misconception about epilepsy. Readers must get this handbook as a reference book and may contact us via email or helpline: – +23288555333 for more...

The purpose of the trip was to debunk the myths of demons inhabiting the beach and prevent people with epilepsy from participating in social activities in the beach area. At the same time increasing recognition of epilepsy within the local communities as this will in turn increase access to clinical treatment as opposed to the harmful traditional practices. Fifty children (50) young people and beach community members took part in this year’s pleasurable trip to Bureh beach to celebrate World purple day on March 26th. However, a lot was achieved as children with epilepsy were bold to raise questions and discuss issues of epilepsy and were less stigmatized among the local community they met. The community members present promised to raise epilepsy issues within their membership having accepted persons with epilepsy as equals in the society. This interest demonstrated by participants show an increase in knowledge that epilepsy is treatable by antiepileptic medication. This year’s celebration was amusing and climaxed with music all over the beach area, dancing, indoor games and reception as the aim of the trip was to entertain and inform about epilepsy...

A lot of attention is placed on education in our quest to reduce the effects of epilepsy on the individual and community. Sensitization is therefore aimed at these two target groups. The community may either support or alienate people with epilepsy depending on their beliefs and attitudes with respect to the condition. There are many who believe that epilepsy is contagious and patients must not be touched even when having an attack. Over 50% of people also believe that epilepsy is due to demons or witchcraft that can only be addressed by traditional means. EASL therefore spend a lot of time and resource trying to dispel these beliefs. Posters, radio jingles, radio discussion programs, village community meetings and talks to schools, churches, mosques are regularly carried out. Every district has an Epilepsy Support Worker who is a social worker and has the task of talking to the community through schools, religious meetings etc and to get people with epilepsy to clinics. For the patient with epilepsy, education is geared towards helping them to maximize the benefits of treatment. They are advised to take their medication regularly, to attend clinics, not to suddenly stop medications, to avoid alcohol and to sleep well. They are also made aware of side effects of medication such as skin rash, swelling of the gums, drowsiness etc. Once a year special activities to mark Purple Day (the day now internationally recognized as world epilepsy day) are organized. In 2013 children were taken on a picnic to Bureh Beach. The purpose of this trip was to debunk the myths of demons inhabiting the beach and prevent people with epilepsy from participating in social activities in the beach area. At the same time increasing recognition of epilepsy within the local communities as this will in turn increase access to clinical treatment as opposed to the harmful traditional practices. Click here to read more and view pictures relating to the Burreh Beach trip. Purple Day Sensitization at...